NEWS

PS 65, The Academy of Innovative Learning, welcomed Borough President James Oddo and a few staff members on February 11 for a tour of the school. The school’s principal, Sophie Scamardella, invited the Borough President after seeing in the Staten Island Advance that he was interested in visiting schools on Staten Island, to learn about their successes and challenges. The school, located on Grant Street in Stapleton, serves children in Pre-K through eighth grade.

The school’s mission is to teach acceptance, respect and integrity, noted Ms. Scamardella. “Our goal is to produce good citizens,” she said. The fifth grade chorus welcomed the Borough President by singing the song, “Brave.” He thanked them for their invitation, welcome and song, stressing a special thank you to the teachers for what they do each day. He was impressed by the energy and respect the children displayed throughout the visit. “I wish I could bottle this up and take it with me,” he said of their enthusiasm.

The students, clad in light blue polo shirts that said PS 65 on them, then invited him on a tour of their classrooms, which are large learning centers, including smart boards and space for the children to work both together and independently. Even the youngest of children said hello and welcomed him into their classrooms. One child even called him, “the Borough king,” which got a laugh from the adults on the tour.

The Borough President was able to see teachers engaging with students firsthand and even looked on as the principal and a math teacher got down on the floor to help a kindergarten student who was struggling with math. From room to room, the students were respectful of each other and their teachers. “You give me hope,” he told the students. “There is a lot wrong with this world and you guys are the antidote.”